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A new version of Apple’s iOS operating system will allow Alberta’s COVID-19 contact tracing app to operate in the background, Alberta Health officials said Friday.

The ABTraceTogether app previously was only able to properly function when running in the foreground of Apple devices, meaning the app had to be visibly open on an individual’s screen and the phone had to remain unlocked — a design flaw that prompted criticism when the app was released at the start of May.

Alberta's COVID-19 tracing app to get iPhone upgrade, but problems persistBack to video

“Apple released their iOS 13.5 version this week that incorporates the Exposure Notification framework that allows contact tracing apps to work in the background and when the iPhone is locked,” said Alberta Health spokesperson Tom McMillan.

“The Alberta app is not utilizing the software update just yet. Alberta Health continues to work with Apple and Google to improve the usability and utility of ABTraceTogether and enhancements will be released at a later date.”

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The app is meant to aid public-health officials in Alberta when completing contact tracing, identifying those who may have come in close contact with people who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

It works by using Bluetooth to detect when two phones using the app are within two metres of each other. The app, whose use is voluntary, was developed from the source code of a similar app released by the Singapore government, which had the same iOS usability problems.

In the nearly three weeks since its release, ABTraceTogether has been downloaded nearly 186,000 times, meaning about 4.3 per cent of Albertans now have the app.

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The first recorded instance of the app leading to a confirmed case last occurred last week.

Though ABTraceTogether will soon get a usability upgrade for Android, some Albertans hoping to use the app have found they’re unable to download it altogether.

Calgarian Rande Allison and her husband both tried to download the app after its release but learned their Android phones, purchased new in 2017, were too old to run the app.

When the couple reached out to the app’s support team, it was suggested they use a compatible device to download the app.

“I could use my tablet, but I don’t take my tablet with me when I go anywhere, and I’m not inclined to spend hundreds of dollars on a brand-new phone just to upgrade my operating system,” said Allison. “I’m just frustrated because we want to do our part to help.”

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Reviews in the Google Play Store, where the app can be downloaded for Android, echo the complaints about compatibility with older phones.

Alberta Health says the app can run on Android version 8.0 or newer and iOS version 11.0 or newer.

According to Google statistics, 61 per cent of Android phones currently in use run version 8.0 or newer, meaning about two-fifths of Android phones are unable to download the ABTraceTogether app. A 2019 Bloomberg report indicates that 47 per cent of Canadian smartphones run Android.

“We are aware of the limitation and apologize for the inconvenience. Individuals will need to ensure their Apple or Android smartphone software is up to date,” McMillan said. “It’s important to remember that this is only one part of protecting yourself. It does not replace any other precautions that Albertans should be taking.”

Allison said she thinks the lack of compatibility is an accessibility issue that could have a greater impact on older demographics, who tend to purchase new phones less frequently and are also at greatest risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.

“To be able to provide our information would be great, and (the Alberta government) could be missing out on a lot of information and community contact,” she said.

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